Can Horses Eat Strawberries? Giving Your Horse A Treat

Horses love to eat treats and giving them a sweet one is a great way for owners to reward their horses after a long day’s work. Horses often get very happy whenever they are able to get a burst of flavor from their food. This is why sometimes homeowners will try to give them a dietary surprise.

In mid-spring, one of the readily available fruits that you can buy is the strawberry. Depending on where you are located, this fruit can be harvested in abundance. Many of us love its tart and sweet flavor that seems to burst with each bite and horses are also known to like it a lot as well.

But is it safe to give strawberries to horses? While there are a lot of fruits and vegetables that you can safely give to your horses, you need to understand that some fruits and vegetables can be very toxic to these animals. Here’s what you need to know about giving strawberries to horses.

Are Strawberries Safe For Horses?

Unlike avocado and other types of fruits, you can actually give strawberries to horses. However, you should also understand that although they are safe for them to eat, you might not want to give them too much of it. This is because ripe strawberries can contain a lot of sugar which is not good for them.

Strawberries are known to contain high amounts of antioxidants, vitamins, water as well as fiber. This makes strawberries great for keeping horses well hydrated and healthy. Some horses will not hesitate to eat wild strawberries if they ever get the chance to see them in their pasture.

But as always, you should keep in mind that if you want to keep your horse fit and healthy, you should try to count how many strawberries you want to give them. This is because if you give too many, you might make the horse feel bloated and the horse might no longer want to eat properly.

If the horse no longer wants to eat the regular diet, the horse will easily end up having problems with digestion. You should also know that strawberries cannot provide all the nutrients that a horse needs, and if you are discouraging them to eat properly by giving too many, they will have nutrient deficiencies.

This is why you should only give strawberries as a light snack and not as a full meal. If you know for a fact that your horse is insulin-resistant, you should try to consult your veterinarian first so you will know whether or not you can safely give your horse strawberries.

How To Prepare The Strawberries For Your Horse

When setting aside strawberries for your horse, you should only consider putting enough to make a medium-sized bowl. Wash the individual pieces thoroughly so you can remove insecticides, fertilizers and mold. Keep in mind that chemicals and microbes can easily cause illnesses in animals.

You should try to remove the top of the strawberries so that it will have a stronger aroma and the horse can enjoy it better. You can also try to cut the strawberries in half so that the horse will be able to eat it properly. Just throw away ones that have not been eaten after a while.

Conclusion

Strawberries can be used as a refreshing snack for horses. These berries contain a lot of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber and water and you can actually use them to help improve your horse’s health. However, they also contain a lot of sugar, this is why you should never give them too much of it.

Keep in mind that if horses have too much treats, they might no longer want to eat their regular diet. This can cause nutrient deficiencies in the horses, and it can also lead to problems with their digestion. You should also try not to give too many strawberries to horses that are insulin resistant.

Do you give strawberries to your horses? Tell us more about it in the comment section.

My name is Emily Taylor, gardening is my passion and I’m looking forward to sharing it with everyone. I know that there are millions of people out there want their backyard and garden be attractive just like their front yard, so I am here to help you create your own backyard paradise.